Singer-songwriter showcase Rocket City Revue restarts after hiatus

Local singer-songwriter showcase Rocket City Revue, a production of Plumb Line Events, is returning to a new location at Tangled Strings Studios on February 13. Started in February 2024 by Ethan Mitchell and Caleb Martin, the showcase is focused on highlighting the original music of up-and-coming local artists.

At each showcase, four artists are selected from emailed submissions to perform 20 minute sets. According to Mitchell and Martin, all styles of music and groups are welcome; the only submission requirements are a name and recordings of two original songs.

“Very often [submissions] will just be people filming themselves in their bedroom or living room with their phone.” Mitchell said. “This is a place where you can be practicing. We feel like you have enough talent that you deserve to be on whatever stage we’re at, but it’s a great opportunity for you to have that captive audience, sometimes for the first time ever.”

Mitchell, who has been involved in the Huntsville performing arts community for 15 years, runs local live events company Plumb Line Events. When developing the idea for a songwriting showcase, he reached out to Martin for his connections in the Huntsville music scene. They aim through Rocket City Revue to address a lack of mid-size “75-100 person” venues in the Huntsville area.

“I’ve been a part of [Huntsville] bands off and on since 2018.” Martin, who currently performs with local band Moontown, said. “The thing that excited me most about it was creating a safe space for artists to be able to share their music wherever they’re at in their musical journey.”

Martin and Mitchell held their first 12 showcases at Theatre Huntsville’s Studio Theatre at Lowe Mill. When that space became unavailable, the duo put the show on hiatus to determine next steps. In December 2024, they secured a spot at Tangled Strings Studios.

While also located at Lowe Mill, Martin said the new venue will be “a lot better,” with a space “made for intimate performances” and “easily accessible.” They will also start having professional videographers film each performer, free of charge, to offer artists something tangible to show for both themselves and the Huntsville music scene.

“We don’t have the backing where we can throw hundreds of dollars for artists to perform each show.” Mitchell said. “But we want to be able to provide them with something…worthy of some of the talent we get. If we can give them afterwards a 20 minute set, professionally recorded and filmed…it will set them up for as much future success as possible.” 

Following the debut on February 13, shows will run the second Thursday of every month.

“We wanted to make sure that we were going to keep the show going and it wasn’t just limping along.” Mitchell said. “We were able to find a place where we felt like we were able to grow the show and make it a hopeful staple of the Huntsville music scene.”

Learn more about Rocket City Revue and Plumb Line Events:

Instagram: @rocketcityrevue
Website:Plumb Line Events